Journey through the cities built into tuff rock

Sorano, Sovana and Pitigliano. What do they have in common? These wonderful and fascinating towns are all located in the south of Tuscany Maremma. They are ones of the anciensts hamlets in Italy and proof of the Etruscan civilization.

All these villages are built and carved in the tuff rock. They boast a long history with ancient  traditions and customs, dated back to the 9th century BC.

Many tourists and curious people visit these areas on the hills of Tuscany Maremma with small towns, vineyards and archaeological finds.

Sorano

Sorano is an Etruscan town located on a cliff and carved into the tuff rock. Visiting Sorano is like going back in time. The Sorano hamlet is typical and charming with small houses all leaning against each other and picturesque alleys.

The town has two main entrances, Porta di Sopra and Porta dei Merli: the first one is located in the lower part of the Orsini Fortress and it leads to the historic center of Sorano. The second entrance is located near the Masso Leopoldino and it is distinguished by the family emblem.

The Orsini Fortress, the Church of San Sebastiano and the Rocca Aldobrandesca represent the most impressive structures built by the Aldobrandeschi family.

Sovana

The second town I would like to talk about is Sovana. This charming village was populated in the Etruscan era, in the ancient Roman age and even in the medieval age. The house and the main square in the old town were all built following medieval architecture.

A few minutes from Sovana there is the Archaeological Park. The park is famous for the outstanding Etruscans necropolis dug into the tuff rock. One one the most known tombs is the Ildebranda tomb. This monumental funeral  building represents the passage from the the Etruscan to the Roman era.

Pitigliano

Pitigliano is famous for its striking beautiful location, surrounded by green valleys where the  the Lente and Meleta rivers flow. The town is built on a tuff hill vertically on a cliff, making Pitigliano a natural fortress.

Pitigliano has a very particular architecture style. Its architecture is the result of a strong contrast between the Etruscan-Roman style and the medieval style, including monuments from the Renaissance and late Renaissance age. Other important buildings in Pitigliano are the aqueduct built by the Medici family and the Orsini family palace.

The cathedral with a beautiful Baroque facade and mighty bell tower overlooks the main square in Pitigliano. It is also possible to visit the remains of the synagogue and the Jewish Museum, this area once hosted the jewish Ghetto.

Near Pitigliano, there are the famous hollow roads. These paths are dug into the tuff rock, with walls up to twenty meters high, a kilometer long and three meters wide. On the pathway it is still possible to see the footsteps of some donkeys who have traveled on these roads. In ancient times, donkeys were indeed one of the few means of transport for farmers.

Visiting these villages is a journey through the history and nature of Tuscany Maremma!